Training vessel State of Maine visits St George's

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13: Two ships will pass through Town Cut this week in an unusually busy few days for the East End port.

The military training vessel, State of Maine, came alongside at Penno’s Wharf on Sunday afternoon for a spot of rest and relaxation.

The ship was previously called USNS Tanner and was build for the US Navy in 1990 as a fast Oceanographic Research Vessel.

In the late 90s she was converted into a maritime training vessel.

Her underwater sonar domes were removed and her accommodation quarters were increased from 108 to 302.

She was delivered to Maine Maritime Academy in 1997 and has been used to help train the sailors of tomorrow.

The State of Maine leaves Bermuda on Thursday and will be replaced at Penno’s Wharf by the cruise ship Regatta.

The liner and her 690 passengers are due to arrive at first light and will be in town for the day.

She will leave St George’s at 6pm bound for the Azores.

Regatta will return to Bermuda on a further two occasions later this year, but this will be her only stop in St George’s.

Today the Norwegian Star and Summit will bring a combined passenger load of just under 4,500 into Dockyard for two days.

While at the weekend Enchantment of the Seas and Norwegian Dawn will arrive in the West End.

Finally this week the Bermuda Islander gets into Hamilton tomorrow morning and the Oleander is due to arrive on Sunday afternoon.